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The Bears have 22 unrestricted free agents, two restricted free agents and six exclusive rights free agents heading into this offseason.
The Chicago Bears have a long offseason ahead where some pretty important decisions await them. Quite a few of those will come in regards to the roster, where there are some decisions to make regarding in-house free agents and players currently under contract.
The Bears have 22 unrestricted free agents, two restricted free agents and six exclusive rights free agents, per Spotrac.
Here’s a look at the 30 Bears players set to hit the open market in 2021.
Also in the news, Jerry Jones boasts about his attendance record, and why Will McClay hasn’t taken a GM job with another NFL team.
The big wheel of the Dallas Cowboys keeps turning. There’s no playoff game to prepare for, so thoughts have already shifted to the 2021 season. And that opens up all kinds of possibilities. Which draft picks to zero in on, what veterans on other rosters to go after in a trade, who among the team’s own free agents to retain… it’s all on the table once again.
There’s still plenty of rehashing of 2020 to do, including lots of suggestions on how to fix the many things that went wrong this year. But there’s good news, too: a rookie is singled out ahead of his peers, a monster performance ranks among the season’s best, and more than one Cowboy showed out with a surprising season. All that, plus back in the weeds with the Dak Prescott contract saga, Jerry Jones finds something to brag about, and a look at why one of the most well-respected front office guys in the league hasn’t jumped ship to be a GM somewhere else. That’s coming right up in News and Notes.
Who are the Miami Dolphins’ pending free agents in 2021?
With the Miami Dolphins’ 2020 season in the rear view mirror, the front office and coaching staff must now turn their eyes inward. With no playoff opponent to prepare for this week, the Dolphins must instead prepare for an offseason of competing against themselves. Miami must now combat the standard they’ve set for themselves and try to get better if they’re going to continue to surpass expectations as a football team and make a return to the postseason in 2021.
The first step to any offseason is looking at which pieces that are currently in the picture need to go. For the Dolphins, a slew of upcoming free agents loom as potential notable losses — so Miami must prioritize which of those players gets to run it back in South Florida once again this fall.
Here are each of Miami’s current scheduled free agents for this upcoming offseason:
Dallas has a lot to fix this offseason.
Defense dominates the headlines in Dallas, even after its best performance of the season. Holding Cincinnati to a lone touchdown wasn’t enough to quash persistent speculation that coordinator Mike Nolan will be shown the door; many are already thinking about who should fill his role in 2021. But there will be turnover on the field, too, and there are plenty of veteran free agents and collegiate draft prospects to consider for the coming defensive rebuild. All that comes even as the Cowboys see several defensive backs make their return to the practice field on Wednesday.
Looking for silver linings on defense? Check out the profile on Randy Gregory and read up on why DeMarcus Lawrence is deserving of far more praise than he’s getting this year. Elsewhere on the roster, Ezekiel Elliott isn’t shutting it down anytime soon, Dalton Schultz has overachieved in a big way, and long snapper L.P. Ladouceur is about to break a unique record. We’re looking at what CeeDee Lamb’s done without Dak, and why Mike McCarthy’s staff may not actually want that postseason “honor” they could be in line for. There’s talk of how a 17-game season will work, and Jerry Jones stops short of trimming the preseason schedule. All that, plus a look at the Cowboys’ current playoff chances, a look ahead at their projected draft slot, and a look way, way, way back at their very first postseason win. Here’s the News and Notes.
Also, Dez Bryant’s imminent return to Dallas, which free agents are worth re-signing, and breaking down Randy Gregory’s techniques.
A surreal week in Dallas has hit the halfway mark. The Cowboys took advantage of the unusual opportunity to watch their next opponent play live, with more practices to go in which to adjust to what they saw. That comes as the team prepares to say its final farewell to a beloved member of the coaching staff, and as a fan favorite prepares to come back to town wearing enemy colors. Strange times, indeed.
But some are already looking ahead to next season, either forecasting the status of one of the team’s supposed strengths, making a case for which free agents are worth re-signing, or trying to speak into existence who the club should select with their first-round draft pick. There’s tape to break down on how Randy Gregory has come so far so fast in his football comeback, and words of wisdom from Dak Prescott to NFL rookies as he deals with a season cut short. There’s a mini-history lesson on Wednesday football, a TV ratings win for America’s Team, and a bit of celebrity news as a rap star puts his Cowboys fandom on full display with a pricey pendant. Here’s the News and Notes.
Houston Texans WR Will Fuller has been suspended for violation of the NFL PED policy. It leaves many questions between now and free agency 2021.
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On Monday afternoon, Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller was suspended for violating the NFL’s performance enhancing drug policy. Fuller immediately took to Instagram to explain the suspension, writing,
The six-game suspension is a serious blow to both the fifth-year wide receiver and the Texans. Just on Thanksgiving, as the Texans seemingly put their season back together with a 41-25 win over the Detroit Lions to improve to 4-7, Fuller led the way with six catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns.
For No. 15, the Notre Dame product was in the midst of a career-season and contract year. The previous four years in Houston had shown both incredible speed and talent, but had been marred by an inability to stay on the field and somewhat inconsistent hands. Suddenly, with Deandre Hopkins traded to the Arizona Cardinals at the start of free agency, it appeared as if Fuller had emerged as the Texans’ new alpha 11 games into the 2020 campaign.
Following Houston’s massive 41-25 victory over the Lions, Fuller had started 11 of 11 possible games and gathered 53 receptions on 75 targets for 879 yards and 8 touchdowns. With five games to go those totals represented career-highs in targets, receptions, yardage and touchdowns.
The suspension will certainly hinder Fuller’s value on the open market this upcoming offseason as he chases a pay-day whether it be from Houston or somewhere else. Teams may question the validity of the physical phenomenon that had emerged as Deshaun Watson’s No. 1 target. Before 2020, Fuller hadn’t played in more than 11 games since his rookie season with quarterback Brock Osweiler. Additionally, the six-game suspension will carry into the 2021 season, assuming Houston misses the playoffs.
For the Texans, losing their No. 1 receiver will serve them no favors as they chase an unlikely wild-card birth. Winners of their last two contests and sitting at 4-7, some fans had begun to wonder whether the team could sneak their way towards a playoff berth, especially if an 8-seed is introduced due to cancellations (Looking at you, Baltimore.)
Despite Watson having a career season, the loss of Fuller will be a huge hurdle for the Texans’ offense, which already struggles to run the football. Loss of their top vertical threat could be devastating in their efforts to beat divisional rivals such as the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans
Realistically, in the long-term, this may aid Houston if the speedster’s value is lowered on the open-market and the team is able to resign the homegrown product at a friendlier cost towards an already complicated salary cap situation. For now, however, it certainly feels as if, even when the Texans win in 2020, they stay losers.
The Chargers will have some decision-making to do following the 2020 season.
Sitting at 3-7, the chances of the Chargers making the playoffs are very slim. While there’s still some hope among some fans, the majority of them are already looking towards the next season, particularly the offseason where there will be some retooling to the roster.
A big part of that includes free agency, where Los Angeles will have a few notable players that they will have to decide whether or not they will have returning.
The Athletic’s Sheil Kapadia ranked the top-50 free agents currently set to hit the market in 2021. L.A. had three players featured on the list and a couple of players as honorable mentions.
Highest on the list for the Bolts is edge defender Melvin Ingram.
Here’s what Kapadia wrote:
16. Melvin Ingram, edge, Chargers (32)
He’s had a very good career, but Ingram has battled injuries and has no sacks and four QB hits this season. Plus, age is working against him. Ingram can still be a disruptive player and is a versatile pass rusher capable of lining up in different spots. But his lack of production this year could hurt him. Ingram could be an attractive option for a contending team looking for a short-term fix. Jason Pierre-Paul’s two-year, $25 million deal from last offseason could be a good comp.
Following Ingram is tight end Hunter Henry, who has served as a security blanket for quarterback Justin Herbert this season.
26. Hunter Henry, TE, Chargers (26)
The Chargers tagged Henry last offseason. He ranks sixth among tight ends with 435 receiving yards so far this season but is 25th with 1.36 yards per route run. Austin Hooper got a four-year, $42 million deal last offseason. Given how young Henry is, he could be in line for a similar deal.
The last person on the list is cornerback Michael Davis, who’s been one of the more productive players in the secondary.
48. Michael Davis, CB, Chargers (26)
After originally signing with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2017, Davis has developed into a quality starting corner. He has size at 6-foot-2 and athletic traits and is young. Davis has been on the field for 96 percent of the Chargers’ defensive snaps this season and has been a contributing player for three seasons. His best days could be still to come.
The Chargers also had two others listed among the honorable mentions that barely didn’t make the list, linebacker Denzel Perryman and safety Rayshawn Jenkins, two defenders that have been impactful this season.
It’s never too early to think about free agency, and there are a number of players that Washington needs to keep around for the future.
The 2021 free agency period is still some months away, but with the bye week upon us, it’s never too early to start to develop a plan and try and figure out which players on the current roster are liable to look elsewhere in the near future. For Washington, there are a number of players whose contracts are set to expire in the next year or two, many of whom they need to try and re-sign to keep around in D.C. for the future.
Though there are still a couple of months for the team to try and figure out how badly they really need these players down the road, we’ve seen enough to know that we want them wearing the Burgundy & Gold for the next several years. Here’s our list of players we’d like Washington to re-sign this offseason.
Former New Orleans Saints guard Larry Warford decided to wait for 2021 free agency by opting out of the 2020 season after three Pro Bowls.
Three-time Pro-Bowl guard, Larry Warford, who has received multiple offers, is opting out of the 2020 season, per source. Warford is looking to start a family and will continue to train and revisit playing in 2021.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 28, 2020
While he hadn’t yet chosen a new team, former New Orleans Saints guard Larry Warford has chosen to opt out of the 2020 season and will wait for 2021 free agency. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Warford’s decision.
Warford was released after the 2020 NFL Draft, not long after the Saints used their first round pick on Michigan center Cesar Ruiz. That put either Ruiz or incumbent center Erik McCoy in competition with Warford to start at right guard, but the Saints chose to release the three-time Pro Bowl alternate after receiving little interest in a trade.
However, he isn’t lacking for options now. Schefter added that Warford received multiple offers this summer as a free agent, but the option to pass on a season marred by the COVID-19 pandemic gave him an opportunity to spend more time with his family.
An interesting wrinkle is that Warford technically doesn’t have to opt out by filing a notice with any NFL teams; he simply doesn’t have to return their calls. Because there’s nothing in the NFL’s agreement with the NFL Players Association about free agents, he could hypothetically opt back in if the right situation presents itself. But that loophole might be closed as the NFL and NFLPA continue to hammer out the details in their negotiations.
Warford is the second player with ties to the Saints to opt out of the 2020 season, though he’s doing so voluntarily. Backup tight end Cole Wick was a long shot to make the team after returning from the 2019 practice squad, but he’s at an elevated health risk due to asthma, and will hope to return for another shot in 2021.
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The Jags’ 2021 free-agency class is full of receivers including Dede Westbrook and Chris Conley. Who could they end up keeping though?
With the football season slowly approaching, Jags Wire contributor Phil Smith and I recorded yet another episode of the “Bleav in Jags Podcast.”
We started this week’s episode off discussing the latest in preseason and training camp news as the league announced that the preseason would be cut in half. Additionally, we discussed the contract signing of DaVon Hamilton and where he fits in the Jaguars plans heading forward.
Afterward, we discussed the latest on defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, who reportedly hasn’t changed his stance about wanting to be traded. With the deadline coming up, we also discussed the possibility of trading him to the Cleveland Browns for David Njoku as proposed by ESPN recently.
Lastly, we tackled our main topic, which was a preview of the Jags’ 2021 free-agency class. With several notable names on the list, we gave our analysis on who could stay or go with notables like Leonard Fournette, Dede Westbrook, Keelan Cole, and more on the last years of their deals.
Feel free to listen to the archived episodes of “Bleav in the Jags,”too, and subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify.
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